What baking soda does in your body
Baking soda is sodium bicarbonate, a base that neutralizes acid. When you drink it dissolved in water, it raises the pH of your stomach and bloodstream temporarily. This is why people reach for it: the when ready effect is real, even though the body works to restore its normal acid balance within hours.
The most common reason people drink baking soda is to relieve heartburn or acid reflux. When stomach acid backs up into your esophagus, baking soda neutralizes it on contact, and the burning sensation often stops within minutes. This is different from how other antacids work — it's fast and inexpensive, which is why it's been a home remedy for over a century.
Key Takeaways
- Baking soda neutralizes stomach acid quickly, which is why it relieves heartburn within minutes of drinking it.
- The effect is temporary — your body restores normal acid levels within a few hours, so it's not a long-term solution.
- Drinking baking soda regularly or in large amounts can raise sodium intake and disrupt your body's acid-base balance.
- People with certain health conditions, including kidney disease or high blood pressure, should not drink baking soda without talking to a doctor first.
- Over-the-counter antacids like calcium carbonate or magnesium hydroxide are often safer for frequent use than baking soda.
How much baking soda is safe to drink
A typical dose for heartburn is one-half teaspoon dissolved in a glass of water, taken once or twice a day. This small amount works because you don't need much to neutralize the acid in your stomach — the effect is chemical, not dose-dependent. Most people feel relief within 15 to 30 minutes.
The safety concern starts when people drink baking soda regularly or in larger amounts. Each dose adds sodium to your body — a half teaspoon contains about 600 milligrams of sodium, which is significant if you're watching your intake. Drinking it several times a day, or using larger amounts, can push you toward the daily sodium limit that health organizations recommend.
Occasional use for a single episode of heartburn is generally considered safe for most adults. Repeated daily use is where the risks begin to outweigh the benefits, especially if you have high blood pressure, kidney disease, or heart disease.
Why regular use can cause problems
Your body maintains a delicate acid-base balance. When you drink baking soda, you're temporarily tipping that balance toward alkalinity. Your kidneys and lungs work to restore balance by excreting the extra base, but if you do this repeatedly, you can develop a condition called metabolic alkalosis — your blood becomes too alkaline.
Metabolic alkalosis causes nausea, vomiting, muscle weakness, and confusion in severe cases. It's rare from baking soda alone, but it becomes more likely if you're also vomiting, taking certain medications, or have kidney problems. The risk increases significantly if you drink baking soda more than a few times per week.
There's also the sodium issue. If you have high blood pressure or are on a sodium-restricted diet, the cumulative sodium from repeated baking soda doses can work against your treatment. Over time, this matters more than a single dose.
Who should not drink baking soda
People with kidney disease should avoid baking soda without medical guidance. Your kidneys regulate acid-base balance, and if they're not working normally, adding baking soda can push your blood pH out of a safe range. The same applies to people on dialysis.
If you have high blood pressure or heart disease, the sodium content is a real concern. Even though a single dose is small, regular use adds up. People taking certain medications — including some diuretics, corticosteroids, or lithium — should check with their doctor first, because baking soda can interact with these drugs or change how your body processes them.
Pregnant people should also avoid drinking baking soda regularly, as the sodium and alkalinity changes can affect both mother and baby. A single dose for acute heartburn is different from daily use.
Better options for frequent heartburn
If you find yourself reaching for baking soda more than once or twice a week, a different approach usually works better. Over-the-counter antacids like calcium carbonate (Tums) or magnesium hydroxide (Milk of Magnesia) work similarly to baking soda but don't carry the same sodium or alkalosis risks with regular use. They're designed for repeated dosing and have a longer safety track record at that level.
H2 blockers like famotidine (Pepcid) or ranitidine work differently — they reduce the amount of acid your stomach produces in the first place, rather than neutralizing acid after it forms. These are available over the counter and work well for people with frequent heartburn.
If heartburn happens several times a week, it's worth talking to a doctor about what's causing it. Frequent acid reflux often points to a habit or food trigger that can be addressed directly — like eating too close to bedtime, consuming large meals, or certain foods — rather than treating the symptom repeatedly.
What the research shows
Studies confirm that baking soda works quickly for heartburn — the effect is real and measurable. However, most research focuses on single doses or short-term use, not what happens when people drink it regularly over months or years. The long-term safety data is limited, which is why health organizations recommend it only for occasional use.
Research also shows that people who use baking soda regularly often switch to other antacids or acid-reducing medications once they understand the sodium and alkalosis risks. This suggests that baking soda is most useful as an emergency remedy, not a maintenance treatment.
How to use baking soda safely if you choose to
If you decide to use baking soda for heartburn, dissolve one-half teaspoon in a full glass of water and drink it slowly. Don't use it more than twice in a 24-hour period, and don't use it for more than two weeks without talking to a doctor. If you're using it more often than that, it's a sign that you need a different approach.
Always take it on an empty stomach or at least two hours away from medications, because baking soda can interfere with how your body absorbs certain drugs. If you have any of the conditions mentioned earlier — kidney disease, high blood pressure, heart disease, or pregnancy — skip baking soda and use something else instead.
Keep track of how often you're reaching for it. If it's becoming a daily habit, that's the moment to switch to a safer option or see a doctor about why your heartburn is so frequent.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I drink baking soda every day?
Daily use is not recommended. Regular baking soda consumption can raise your sodium intake and disrupt your body's acid-base balance over time. If you have heartburn every day, talk to a doctor about other options like H2 blockers or lifestyle changes that address the root cause.
Is baking soda better than antacids like Tums?
Baking soda works faster, but Tums and similar antacids are safer for regular use because they don't carry the same sodium or alkalosis risks. If you need heartburn relief more than occasionally, an over-the-counter antacid designed for frequent dosing is usually the better choice.
What if I have kidney disease — can I drink baking soda?
No, not without talking to your doctor first. Your kidneys regulate acid-base balance, and baking soda can disrupt that balance if your kidneys aren't working normally. Even a small dose can be risky, so check with your healthcare provider before using it.
How long does baking soda take to work?
Most people feel relief within 15 to 30 minutes. The effect is temporary — it usually lasts a few hours before your body restores its normal acid level. This is why it's useful for acute heartburn but not for ongoing acid reflux.
Can baking soda hurt my stomach?
A single dose rarely causes harm, but regular use can lead to metabolic alkalosis, where your blood becomes too alkaline. This causes nausea, weakness, and confusion. The risk is low with occasional use but increases if you drink it several times a week or more.